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Iraq-Jordan
US push for 'Sunni seats' rejected
2004-12-27
Iraq's Independent Election Commission has emphatically rejected US calls for fixed Sunni Arab seats in the legislature, said a commission official. The election body has rejected a move by Washington to adjust the results of next month's vote to benefit the Sunni community. Speaking of "unacceptable" interference, Electoral Commission spokesman Farid Ayar said: "Who wins, wins. That is the way it is. That is the way it will be in the election."

Ayar was emphatic in dismissing such a possibility, and suggested US officials were trying to interfere. "Maybe they didn't read the rules and regulations of the commission ... The Americans are expressing their views and those aren't always the same as the commission's. But the commission is absolutely independent. "It is not acceptable for anyone to interfere in our business. That will not be allowed to happen," he said.
Posted by:Fred

#18  This sounded like the joke that has the punch line "may I push in your stool" to me.

It may have been a "trial balloon" being made on behalf of the State Departments Saudi masters. They sure as hell don't work for the US.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2004-12-27 9:42:09 PM  

#17  Al Jizz - "if the news isn't there, we'll make it up"
Posted by: Frank G   2004-12-27 9:31:34 PM  

#16  BTW, everyone, it turns out this story is bogus. Powell was asked about this and very clearly said so this afternoon - there was never any US plan or request to "reserve" seats for the Sunnis.

The story is BOGUS. It Did Not Happen. Just Al Jizz earning its moniker.

Heh.
Posted by: .com   2004-12-27 9:29:11 PM  

#15  No one deserves marginalization through lack of participation in the Iraqi elections more than the Sunnis. Their delusions of theological ascendancy should (and look like they most definitely will) come back to bite them on the @ss in spades.

My heart pumps piss.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-12-27 6:56:26 PM  

#14  Looks like someone at the State Dept. missed a fine opportunity to STFU.
Posted by: AJackson   2004-12-27 5:17:12 PM  

#13  I can't help but think that the U.S. suggested it because they NEW it would be rejected.
GT's got it right. Oh well, we tried. I'm not saying it's going to do us any good, just that
now we can look like we actually tried.
Posted by: Mike   2004-12-27 2:23:46 PM  

#12  Why don't we send Puffy Combs over there...

VOTE or DIE!

I think we should rename the MOAB to FATWA and issue a few. Ok, done ranting, back to work.
Posted by: JackassFestival   2004-12-27 12:01:56 PM  

#11  #8... I can't help feeling that things aren't really going that well, until we start hearing about the Sunni, former Bathists, and former military officers who go missing, are arrested, are assassinated, or who's bodies are found in the streets in the morning. We hear almost daily about ING, police, workers, translators, and Shiite being attacked. Where is all the payback? Could MSM really be suppressing reports of retaliations? The insurgency seems to be mostly supported by Sunni and the Bathists, so how come the Kurds and Shia don't seem to be doing anything in return?
Posted by: DO   2004-12-27 11:47:35 AM  

#10  Quite so Frank.
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-12-27 11:41:52 AM  

#9  maybe they can take the payback to the AP photographers as well....
Posted by: Frank G   2004-12-27 11:33:52 AM  

#8  Seems that the IEC are catching on to what Democracy means rather quicker than State thought eh?

I'm sure there is going to be one almighty bloodletting of Sunni Baathists, 'insurgent' sympathisers and Saddam supporters once Feb 1st comes around.

Payback can be a real bitch... (thinking of those poor sods 'executed' on the street whilst a cameraman just 'happened' to be strolling by).
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-12-27 11:05:06 AM  

#7  I wish we could tell State to STFU that easily.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-12-27 9:44:55 AM  

#6  Oh well, we tried, but it's not in the cards.
Posted by: Glereper Thigum7529   2004-12-27 8:47:11 AM  

#5  Something tells me this was a "state department idea." IF teh Sunni don't vote we know whos side they are on. That would be the losing side.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2004-12-27 3:09:50 AM  

#4  Yo, Sunnis... The Vote. Use it or lose it.
Posted by: .com   2004-12-27 2:44:18 AM  

#3  Stupid, stupid idea.
Posted by: someone   2004-12-27 2:16:58 AM  

#2  Washington wants to help the Sunni community-the community that is aiding and abetting and even committing acts of violence against our GI's????Someone has some 'splain' to do...
Posted by: joeblow   2004-12-27 1:45:26 AM  

#1  The election body has rejected a move by Washington to adjust the results of next month’s vote to benefit the Sunni community.

Geez, can't these guys drop the affirmative action thing already???
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-12-27 1:10:19 AM  

00:00